A mutt named Rupee is believed to be the first canine to make the trek to Everest Base Camp on the world's highest peak. Former professional golfer Joanne Lefson said she adopted the 11-month-old pooch in the mountainous Indian town of Leh last September and decided to take him on the trip to base camp at an elevation of 17,598 feet.

Getting trampled is the price a cub pays for breakfast at the zoo... Photo-5453455.74008 - StamfordAdvocate

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Grief Wellington:

The Duke of Wellington may never lose his dunce cap after Glasgow dropped plans to raise the statue to keep pranksters from placing traffic cones on the duke's head. City leaders said it was "depressing" to have a pointy-headed hero of Waterloo represent the city, but gave in after more than 10,000 Scotts signed a petition opposing the proposed statue lifting, which would have cost $104,000.

Grief Wellington: The Duke of Wellington may never lose his... Photo-5458789.74008 - StamfordAdvocate

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It's not Christmas without a steaming bottom-feeder on your plate:

Fishermen sort carp and other fish during the annual carp harvest at the more than 100 man-made ponds near Peitz, Germany. Carp is the traditional Christmas dinner in these parts, though
one fisherman laments that the younger generation doesn't share the same appetite for the fish.

It's not Christmas without a steaming bottom-feeder on your... Photo-5458770.74008 - StamfordAdvocate

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Taboola Gallery Frame Item-85307.74008 - StamfordAdvocate

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Teutonic the hedgehogs:

When temperatures drop at the Tierpark Zoo in Berlin, porcupines huddle for warmth - carefully.

Teutonic the hedgehogs:

When temperatures drop at the Tierpark Zoo in Berlin, porcupines huddle for warmth - carefully.

Photo: John MacDougall, AFP/Getty Images

Teutonic the hedgehogs: When temperatures drop at the Tierpark... Photo-5453436.74008 - StamfordAdvocate

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Palestinian kids play

on the balcony of a house pockmarked with bullet holes in Rafah, Gaza Strip. Israeli
soldiers sprayed the house with gunfire during an offensive launched a year ago following the killing of top
Hamas military commander Ahmed Jaabari. The one-week fight between Israel and Palestinian militants resulted in
the deaths of 136 Palestinian and five Israelis.

Muslim Shiite boys impersonating genies described in the Koran take part in
the annual religious performance of "Taazieh" in the Iranian town of Noosh Abad. "Taazieh" marks the mourning
period of Ashura, which commemorates the martyrdom of Prophet Mohammed's grandson Imam Hussein in 680
AD.

AFP photographer Joel Saget took this picture of French artist and photographer JR overseeing the
installation of portraits from his "Inside Out" project in Paris. The artist will be transforming one of the
towers of the French National Library into a giant photo booth by using an optical illusion technique.